A proponent for victims of sexual and domestic violence says a bill signed by the Governor could put Missouri ahead of other states in how it deals with such crimes.

Colleen Coble is the CEO of the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence. She says House Bill 215 makes significant changes to all of Missouri’s laws regarding sex crimes.

“I think in many regards we could see that this puts Missouri in a very prominent position for really changing the nature of our laws on rape, and making a leadership place for our state in the way our laws can address rape and sexual assault.”

The bill will change the definition of rape to include instances when a victim does not give consent, rather than solely on an offender’s use of force of violence. Coble says the importance of that change can’t be overstated.

“Before this bill was signed into law by the Governor, if you were incapacitated, you were medically sedated, you didn’t have the mental capacity to consent to any sexual activity, the law didn’t call that a crime if someone forced you and raped you. That is changed with this law.”

The change comes too late for many victims who had to endure being told that Missouri law didn’t call what had happened to them a crime. Coble says even for those individuals, however, some healing could come out of this law being passed.

“I think it absolutely will and that has been shown by the courage of those who came forward during the legislative process to tell their stories and to tell how they were failed by our laws not reflecting the reality of rape in our state, and its effect on individuals who then aren’t able to proceed through the prosecution and court system.”

The budget proposal passed yesterday by the House includes an increase of $1.9 million dollars in state support for the fight against domestic violence. That would raise the amount that goes to help victims to more than $8.4 million dollars.

CEO Colleen Coble with the Missouri Coalition against Domestic and Sexual Violence says that would be spread between about 90 programs across the state including 70 shelters.

“This increase, $1.9 million more dollars for domestic violence services is the biggest increase we’ve had for more than, gosh, 10 years.”

Coble says that money will go a long way.

“These dollars will directly help battered women and their children … give them a place to stay. It will help operate crisis lines in communities throughout Missouri, it will help women get orders of protection by having service advocates who can help them navigate through the court system, a whole host of services directly for women and their children.”

Coble says the increase helps, but the amount of money it would take to help all victims would be frightening.

“We currently turn away more than 18,000 women and children who are in need of services at the moment they call their local program, so we’re not keeping pace.”

She says local support is needed to help keep shelters open, and it would be key if shelters are to expand to provide room to help more victims.

“We really area at a point where capital needs … building extra bedrooms, building more space … is really an issue, and that is an area where local community involvement and generosity has made all the difference.”

The budget goes now to the Senate which is likely to propose changes that would have to be negotiated in a House-Senate committee.